Upama, aka: Upamā; 11 Definition(s)

Introduction

Upama means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Upamā (उपमा, “simile”).—One of the four alaṃkāra, or “figure of speech”;—Description of upamā: When in a poetical composition anything is compared on the basis of some similarity, it is an instance of Simile (upamā). It relates to quality and form.

Upamā (उपमा, “simile”) refers to a type of Alaṃkāra (figure of speech).—The figure Upamā is the resemblance between two things expressed in a single sentence and unaccompanied with the statement of difference. In the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita, there is found, some fascinating instances of Upamā.

Upamā (उपमा) refers to one of the 93 alaṃkāras (“figures of speech”) mentioned by Cirañjīva Bhaṭṭācārya (fl. 17th century) in his Kāvyavilāsa and is listed as one of the 89 arthālaṃkāras (figure of speech determined by the sense, as opposed to sound).—Upamā is at the root of a large number of alaṃkāras and has been treated as a figure from the very beginning. Ālaṃkārikas like Bharata (N.Ś. XIV/12), Bhāmaha (230), Daṇḍin (214), Vāmana (421), Mammaṭa (X/P. 540), Ruyyaka (A.S, P. 25), Viśvanātha (X/14) and Jagannātha (P. 204) have treated upamā. Bharata speaks of upamā first. Appayyadīkṣita has mentioned the importance of upamā in his Citramīmāṃsā.

Cirañjīva defines upamā as follows—“upamā yatra sādṛśyalakṣmīrūllasati dvayoḥ”.—“That in which the grace of similarity between the two is expressed is known as upamā”. In this definition the word dvayoḥ indicates the thing compared to (upamāna) and the thing compared (upameya). The similarity between these two should have to be clearly expressed. When the two objects are different and still they have most of the attributes in common then the similarity exists between these two objects.

Cirañjīva classifies upamā into two varieties—

pūrṇopamā,

luptopamā.

An example of upamā where the four requisites, i.e., upameya, upamāna, words suggestive of similarity and common attribute are present, is known as pūrṇā and where anyone or two or three of the four requisites are not mentioned, it is known as luptā.

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

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Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Upamā (उपमा).—A well-known term in Rhetorics meaning the figure of speech ' simile ' or ' comparison '. The word is often found in the Nirukta in the same sense; cf.अथात उपमाः (athāta upamāḥ) | 'यत् अतत् तत्सदृशम् (yat atat tatsadṛśam)'इति गार्ग्यः । (iti gārgyaḥ |) Nir III.13. Generally an inferior thing is compared to another that is superior in quality.

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

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Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Relevant definitions

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